Government Resigning over lost votes

[potterfan3]

Does a Government have to resign if it loses a vote in the Commons? I always thought they did, but DC has lost a few votes now and hasn't resigned. Indeed I remember Tony Blair saying he'd have needed to resign if he lost the Iraq War vote.

What's the deal here? What situations do they need to resign if they a vote?

[HowardKennitby]

some useful stuff here

http://en.wikipedia.o...tion_of_no_confidence

[plautus]

They normally resign if they lose a vote of confidence. The last time that happened was in 1979 when Callaghan lost by one vote. If the government does not make an issue one of confidence then there is no need to resign if it were lost.
This is how Heath got the EEC Act through in 1972, by making it a vote of confidence, otherwise he would have lost and we would be a damned sight better off.

[thos]

correct it has to be voted as a vote of confidence and resign if lose------so over this issue govt carries on although embarrassed

[potterfan3]

thanks guys!

[DTCwordfan]

and bear in mind it was a Conservative motion. There is unanimity in the party that they do not want any increase in the EU spend, the issue is a freeze versus cuts, the pragmatics of which that even a freeze will be a hell of an achievement. If Cameron uses the veto, that de facto, forces cuts as the EU constitution allows no new spending initiatives, therefore as projects complete themselves, the savings then accrue.